Alice Autin

To find out more about the fight for accountability for the worst crimes, check out these resources:

✔️ coalitionfortheicc.org
✔️ makingjusticework.org/en/
✔️ x.com/hrw/status/1...
✔️ hrw.org/topic/intern...
✔️ pic.x.com/kpzeLLHsjW

What can governments do to show up for survivors of the worst crimes?

👉Insist on the global rule-of-law, not a world of might makes right
👉 Step up all support for justice efforts worldwide
👉 Reject double standards + abide by their legal obligations
👉 Protect civic space

In spite of the odds, victims and survivors, activists, communities keep showing up to demand justice.

They do so at high personal cost, because #JusticeMatters. Hope lies in their courage and fortitude.

On #July17 and every day they need governments to show up for them.

Justice for the worst crimes is never easy. But the rules-based international order that helps deliver justice and protect human rights seems more at risk than ever:

➡️US #ICC sanctions
➡️Ignoring court decisions (ICC arrest warrants/#ICJ orders)
➡️💰cuts threatening civic space

#July17 is ⚖️ International Justice Day ⚖, the anniversary of the #ICC's founding treaty, the Rome Statute.

✊🙌 It's a day to reflect on courageous efforts around the 🌏 to ensure justice for the worst crimes through national and international courts.

#JusticeMatters #NGOVoices

EU Foreign Ministers Should Pledge to Defend Justice When the EU’s 27 foreign ministers meet on June 23, they should make defending the International Criminal Court (ICC) from escalating attacks by the Trump administration a top priority.

When EU foreign ministers meet next Monday, they must pair words with strong action to defend the ICC.

After new US sanctions on ICC judges, Slovenia & Belgium have urged the EU to activate the blocking statute. The Commission should follow through.

www.hrw.org/news/2025/06...

Hungary: Orbán Government Withdraws from ICC Hungary’s withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC) is an insult to victims and survivors of the world’s worst crimes.

After refusing to arrest ICC fugitive Netanyahu, Hungary is now doubling down on impunity by withdrawing from the court.

The EU cannot afford to stay silent as member states weaken the ICC, at odds with 🇪🇺 values, laws & objectives.

Now, how will the EU respond?
hrw.org/news/2025/06...

Sanctions are meant to put a stop to human rights violations, *not* to punish those seeking justice for the worst crimes.

⚠️ALL ICC member countries should speak out against the US sanctions and make clear they back the court’s independence and critical global mandate

🔴It's high time to formally speak out, condemn the additional sanctions & make clear they won't go unaddressed
🔴Activate the Blocking Statute, just like the ICC, 🇪🇺Parliament, many EU member states & civil society asked, to help ensure that the ICC important work can continue.

Trump administration sanctions ICC judges just for doing their jobs for justice amid grave crimes in Israel&Palestine & as Israeli atrocities mount in Gaza, incl. w/ US complicity. They're a blatant attack on rule of law.

@vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu @kajakallas.bsky.social & Com.McGrath: time to act!

Important that Belgium’s Justice Minister reminds the Prime minister - no one is above the law.
All EU members should unequivocally affirm it will enforce all legal obligations under the Rome Statute, including executing all ICC arrest warrants

To overcome these threats the EU should:
• Condemn US sanctions on the ICC
• Activate the Blocking Statute
• Remind member states of their legal obligations to cooperate w/the ICC

⏰Time take decisive action to reaffirm commitment & protection of the international rule-of-law

US sanctions targeting the ICC are an affront to victims. Most EU member states have condemned the sanctions but🇪🇺 as a whole has yet to express its opposition in an official statement.

Several EU states have also apparently failed to or said they wouldn't uphold ICC obligations.

🚨The European Union should defend the International Criminal Court amid serious attacks on its mandate & mission, say 58 NGOs. These attacks could undermine justice for victims of serious international crimes around the world.

www.hrw.org/news/2025/04...

Hungary: Arrest, Don’t Welcome ICC Fugitive Netanyahu Hungary should deny entry to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or arrest him if he enters the country. Netanyahu’s office announced that he is planning to travel to Hungary on April 2, 2025 fo...

Orban’s invitation to Netanyahu is:
📍an affront to victims of serious crimes
📍a breach of Hungary's ICC obligations
📍Orban's latest assault on the rule of law

⚠️ICC member countries & the EU need to make clear they expect Hungary to arrest Netanyahu

hrw.org/news/2025/04...

- incl. annulling a nb of Assad laws, overturning unfair terrorism court rulings, restoring confiscated property, & establishing a transitional justice body to prevent impunity for serious crimes.

... but their effectiveness is uncertain without a strong & independent judiciary.

Syria: Constitutional Declaration Risks Endangering Rights Syria’s newly approved constitutional declaration, meant to govern the country’s transitional phase, concentrates power in the executive and could undermine the independence of the judiciary.

Though the declaration affirms judicial independence, it lacks clear safeguards to ensure it in practice. It give the President authority for appointment in key judicial bodies without oversight.

www.hrw.org/news/2025/03...

Some provisions seem to promote justice & human rights...

Syria: Constitutional Declaration Risks Endangering Rights Syria’s newly approved constitutional declaration, meant to govern the country’s transitional phase, concentrates power in the executive and could undermine the independence of the judiciary.

Without strong safeguards & oversight, Syria’s constitutional declaration risks entrenching executive power over fundamental freedoms.

Given the rampant unchecked authority of the previous govt, any new system should aim to hold everyone accountable for abuses & crimes.

Strong res by @europarl.europa.eu on dramatic crisis in #Sudan, calling for sanctions on leaders of #RSF & pro #SAF militia, support to protection of civilians & extension of UN arm embargo.

@kajakallas.bsky.social: Civilians don't deserve #EU's inaction.

www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pres...

Good to read @kajakallas.bsky.social's support to work hand in hand with int'l accountability mechanisms to bring perpetrators of atrocities in #Ukraine to justice.

Should also mean speaking up against & shielding @intlcrimcourt.bsky.social from flawed sanctions.

www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/united-...

This momentous event sends a message to human rights abusers everywhere that one day they could be held to account. At a time when the ICC itself is under attack, most recently by Trump's decision to sanction the prosecutor, the arrest affirms the court’s relevance & significance.

Philippines: Duterte Arrested on ICC Warrant The arrest of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and his transfer to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague is a historic step toward justice, Human Rights Watch said today.

🚨The arrest of former Philippine President Duterte & his transfer to the ICC is a historic step toward justice.
He is accused of arresting and killing thousands of mostly impoverished people in urban areas during his brutal nationwide “war on drugs.”

www.hrw.org/news/2025/03...

Les autorités philippines ont arrêté l'ancien président Rodrigo Duterte sur la base d'un mandat d'arrêt de la CPI.

Son arrestation offre un espoir de justice pour les victimes et leurs familles.

Syria’s new leadership must grant independent monitors full access & enact real security sector reform. It means vetting out abusers, ensuring civilian oversight & aligning forces with human rights standards.

Lasting peace and stability is impossible without full accountability.

The violence in #Syria’s coastal region highlights the urgent need for justice. All parties - incl HTS & 🇹🇷-backed SNA - must be held accountable for human rights abuses. Justice must apply to all, not just some.

www.hrw.org/news/2025/03...

EU Cooperation in International Criminal Court Arrests The document makes six recommendations to the EU and its member states to advance arrest strategies for outstanding ICC arrest warrants. These arrest strategies include complying with the clear legal ...

EU policy is clear: no non-essential contacts with ICC fugitives. Yet 🇨🇿 MFA meets w/ Netanyahu, wanted for atrocity crimes in #Gaza.

Will the EU & other member states ask why this meeting took place & ensure 🇨🇿 uphold its commitments under 🇪🇺 guidelines?

hrw.org/news/2024/11...

It's more than evidence, it's public advertisement!

It should have been a red flag over EU's decision to add 20mil EUR support for #Rwanda's forces in Mozambique, while its commanders were involved in supporting #M23 abuses in #DRCongo.

euobserver.com/eu-and-the-w... @euobserver.com

Victims of international crimes need justice — and the ICC We call on the EU’s member countries and institutions to be the voice of human dignity globally, and to mobilize, defend and support the court.

"We cannot let the US decide whether we can or cannot launch an investigation, ask for reparations for victims or condemn a war criminal"

Powerful call to action by @JosepBorrellF, @MounirSatouri, @DenisMukwege & others urging EU to defend the ICC against sanctions.

www.politico.eu/article/inte...

DR Congo: M23 Drives Displaced People From Goma Camps The Rwanda-backed M23 armed group has unlawfully ordered tens of thousands of displaced people to leave the camps around Goma in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

#Rwanda backed #M23 ordered already displaced civilians to leave camps west of #Goma in Eastern #DRCongo. This is cruel & possible war crime.

#EU should take urgent action: sanction high-level commanders involved in abuses, suspend flawed deals w/ #Rwanda.

www.hrw.org/news/2025/02... @hrw.org

World Responds to Trump’s Targeting of International Criminal Court US President Donald Trump issued an executive order on February 6 authorizing sanctions on International Criminal Court (ICC) officials and others supporting the court’s work. The ICC’s prosecutor, Ka...

Trump’s ICC sanctions met immediate expressions of support for ICC from around the globe.

Yet, EU's @kajakallas.bsky.social silence to date has been deafening, esp. in light of her predecessor’s quick reaction to the 2020 ICC sanctions during Trump’s first term.

www.hrw.org/news/2025/02...